Mid 70's Gibson Es 335's....anyone know these well or, at all???

[JeffB]

I've been looking at a player condition 335TD. Seller says it's a 74, but I think with the tarbacks and coil split on the lower horn would put it at 75 or 76?? original Trapeze.

Cosmetically it's worn...it was played alot..gigged...which I think is a good sign. but no breaks, cracks, structural issues, and AFAICT all original.

Wondering if there is anything I should look out for, be aware of, among these years...which are often considered at the end of the best Norlin production (69-76 or so). I know some people hate the narrow nut width. Anything else?

 

[daan]

Re: Mid 70's Gibson Es 335's....anyone know these well or, at all???

Are the pickups the ones with "Gibson" embossed into the covers? Back when I still had $, I was at a vintage store, and of the 10 or so ES-s they had, a Walnut colored one with the embossed pups was BY FAR the best sounding ES they had. The neck was probably the smallest, but man did that thing sound awesome. I just couldn't justify spending $5k on it though.
So yeah, the ES's were on the upper end of the product line, so they seemed to take more care putting those together, I haven't heard of any real negatives of that era, if you dig it, get it!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Mid 70's Gibson Es 335's....anyone know these well or, at all???

The logo covers were a few years earlier. These are the Bill Lawrence tarbacks

I am pondering.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Mid 70's Gibson Es 335's....anyone know these well or, at all???

The bridge and neck woods plus serial number will be your best bet for getting a year. Up to some point in 75 all gibbys were made in Kalamazoo with a mahogany neck, ABR and stamped ser#. In 75 Nashville opened and the Nashville bridge, maple necks and an oval sticker for the serial number came in. All Nashville instruments used the new spec, the Kalamazoo instruments shifted over as stock/parts were used up.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Mid 70's Gibson Es 335's....anyone know these well or, at all???

The bridge and neck woods plus serial number will be your best bet for getting a year. Up to some point in 75 all gibbys were made in Kalamazoo with a mahogany neck, ABR and stamped ser#. In 75 Nashville opened and the Nashville bridge, maple necks and an oval sticker for the serial number came in. All Nashville instruments used the new spec, the Kalamazoo instruments shifted over as stock/parts were used up.

Excellent info. Thank you :bigthumb: This must be a 75. It's MIKalamazoo (square sticker inside), hog neck, stamped serial #, but does have a nashville bridge....

 

[dystrust]

Re: Mid 70's Gibson Es 335's....anyone know these well or, at all???

AFAIK the coil cut switch became standard in '76, not sure if it was available as special order before then. Also I believe Kalamazoo was open until at least '79 or into the early 80s, so it could be later 70s.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Mid 70's Gibson Es 335's....anyone know these well or, at all???

Yeah, I think I am going to pass for now. The seller doesnt seem to quite know whats going on with it, and looks like its ready for a re- fret too. Considering that extra cost, its getting over my max budget.